Cheryl Cole posts up snap of judge line-up minus the main man and asks "Where's Simon?"

It's only the second day of the X Factor 2014 auditions and it seems there's already some drama.

Show boss Simon Cowell appears to have gone AWOL as Cheryl Cole posts up a snap of herself with Mel B and Louis Walsh.

With the picture, she wrote: "The judging line up for the day... Man down!!! #wheresSimon?! #whereswally"

The new judging panel, including old hands Simon and Louis, new face Mel B and returning judge Cheryl Cole, made a glam appearance at the Lancashire County Cricket ground in Manchester on Monday to open auditions.

And Louis didn't waste time winding up his fellow judges, a show insider revealed.

X Factor / Twitter

Louis Walsh, Mel B, Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell

“A girl group were one of the first into the auditions and Louis stirred things up straight away by asking if they preferred the Spice Girls or Girls Aloud.

"They said they liked them both so any huge row on the first day was avoided.

“Louis was giggling because he knows everything won’t stay harmonious the whole way through and they will have differences.

"Part of the fun is watching the relationships change over time and seeing different opinions between the judges.”